Lauterbrunnen

Facts about Lauterbrunnen

• Location: in the Alps
• Region: Jungfrau region (Bernese Oberland)
• Lauterbrunnen can be reached by train
• Popular attractions: Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe, GoldenPass line, Schilthorn
• Town size: village
• Elevation: 800 m (2625 ft)
• Travel time from Zurich: 2h25 by train, 2h05 by car

Lauterbrunnen is located strategically

Lauterbrunnen is a small village in the Lauterbrunnen valley. It's ideally situated for excursions throughout the Jungfrau region.

The village is sitting in between the mountain villages Mürren and Wengen, which are the obvious areas for day trips. The valley itself is very attractive as well. There are lots of opportunities to hike here!

Location and scenery

The Lauterbrunnen valley is famous for its 72 waterfalls. There are smaller and larger ones. You'll have to look hard to find all of them, but some are impossible to miss, such as the famous Staubbach Fall just outside the village.

Huge rock walls rise up hundreds of meters from the valley floor, particularly on the west side of the village. On the east side you'll find forestry slopes going up to Wengen, and again rock walls.

You can see quite some peaks, but not as many as from Mürren, Wengen or Grindelwald: these towns are located at higher altitudes and offer wider views.

A winter stay in Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen is on the valley floor at about 800 m. This means that snow in town is not guaranteed.

But you can easily access the ski areas above Mürren (25 minutes by cable car and train) and Wengen (11 minutes by train). Snow activities in Grindelwald (37 minutes by train) are within reach as well. 

Mid-December to mid-March is the best season for a winter visit. 

Pros and cons of Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen is small, but offers everything you need to enjoy your holidays: several hotels and restaurants, a camping and a supermarket. Perhaps the biggest advantage is its central location on the valley floor. If you want to explore the Jungfrau region, traveling from Lauterbrunnen is convenient as you can quickly reach Interlaken, Mürren and Wengen.

Unlike Mürren and Wengen, Lauterbrunnen isn't car-free. It is the transit town for people on their way to Mürren and Wengen. There can be quite some traffic on the main road in high season.

Some people feel somewhat "locked-in" in Lauterbrunnen because of the narrow valley and the rock walls on both sides of the village. Unlike the villages in the mountains, Lauterbrunnen can be shady for quite some time each day, because the sun is hidden behind the mountains. This happens particularly in winter, when daylight is already short.

Do you want to learn about other towns in the Jungfrau region? You'll find them here.

What not to miss during your stay

A visit to either Jungfraujoch or the Schilthorn should be on your list. Or both of course! Also, the pleasant walk from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg is a must if staying in Lauterbrunnen.

More attractions and hiking routes

Bad weather activities

Staying in Lauterbrunnen means you are dependent on the weather as nearly all activities are in the outdoors. Some ideas for rainy days:

• Shopping in Interlaken
• The national capital Bern
• The town of Thun
• The nearby Trümmelbach Falls: they're in caves, so certainly an option in rainy weather